Winds of war in Europe: British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said today (Tuesday) that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has already begun, and Britain will impose sanctions on Moscow. He added that “we got up for a black morning” in which Putin decided to attack Ukraine’s sovereignty. According to him, the prime minister Boris Johnson Will make a statement to Parliament on this matter.
Earlier today, the President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zlansky, Clarified in response to the declaration of Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine does not intend to give up any territory for anyone. This, a few hours after the Russian president’s declaration of recognition of the independence of the separatist regions.
“We stay on our lands, we are not afraid of anything and we do not owe anything to others. We stand behind our position,” Zlansky clarified. The president stressed that Ukraine’s borders would remain as they were, despite “threatening statements” on Russia’s part, adding that Ukraine was ready to take effective steps to back international support.
According to Zalansky, Ukraine has initiated an emergency meeting with Germany, Russia and France, members of the “Normandy Group” and warned that Putin’s latest move undermines the current negotiations and interpreted it as “a unilateral exit from the Minsk agreements and disregard for the Normandy agreement”. To the citizens of his country, assured that Ukraine will deal with the crisis with confidence, noting that there is no cause for concern.
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As you may recall, last night Putin issued a media statement in which he sharpened the historical ties between Russia and Ukraine, mentioning that Lenin and Stalin were the ones who recognized it, and finally, signed an agreement recognizing the independence of the separatist provinces, Donetsk and Luhansk.
Most Western countries were quick to condemn Putin’s statement, saying they would join in imposing sanctions on Russia, but so far Israel has refrained from commenting. The UN Security Council has announced an emergency meeting and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned that “a Russian invasion is a real possibility within hours or days”.
At the same time, according to a Bloomberg report, the Biden administration has ordered all remaining U.S. State Department personnel to leave Ukraine, with the U.S. embassy, which was initially evacuated from Kiev to Lvov, relocated to Poland.
In response to Putin’s statement, US President Joe Biden has announced that he will immediately sign an order banning new investment, trade and financing by US entities into Donetsk or Lugansk, and further steps will be taken soon. “These steps will be taken in addition to the existing joint plan “Our allies, in case Russia invades Ukraine,” the White House said. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has not yet canceled his planned meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
US President Joe Biden (Photo: REUTERS / Kevin Lamarque)